Category: Uncategorized

We’re growing our team of part-time VOLUNTEERS to assist in the day-to-day running of our NEW Furniture Centre, opening in Bonnington later this month.

Our charity shops raise vital funds that support the wide range of services our Hospice delivers across Edinburgh and the Lothians, so if you have some free time available and would like to help, we’d love to hear from you!

Furniture Centre Volunteers will carry out a wide range of tasks in their roles. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, taking information about collections and deliveries, or handling furniture.

Whether you are looking to gain new skills and experiences, use those you already have or are just looking for a way to get out and meet new people, then we have flexible options to suit you!

To find out more about the role visit https://bit.ly/3Gzb2KE or call our Volunteer Services team on 0131 551 1381.

ENTRIES ON THE DAY are available for this awesome 10K from Newhaven Harbour, 10.30am start​​​​​​​​

ENTER by 10am at Lighthouse Park, end of Western Harbour Drive.

Cash / Card accepted

£21 / £19 (£2 discount for SA members) includes a £1 donation to @theheartofnewhaven charity​​​​​​​​

#newhavenlighthouse10k

#findarace

#racefinder

#scottish10k

#edinburgh10

k#10krace#10k#runnersofedinburgh#runnersofscotland

#runneruk#runchat#scottishrunningcommunity

#blastrunning

#scottishrunningguide

#scottishrunners

#runedinburgh

#werunedinburgh

#scottishrunner

#runnersworlduk

#ukrunchat

#runwithpurpose

#runspire

#runspiration

#getupandgetgoing

#couchto10k

#thingstodoinedinburgh

#newhavenharbour

#racebling

#running2025

• Working families sending their child to school for the first time in August can save up to £2,000 a year per child on their childcare bills
• Tax-Free Childcare can be used flexibly to pay for childminders, wraparound and holiday childcare
• Supporting the Government’s mission to grow the economy and deliver on the Plan for Change

Hundreds of thousands of families who recently found out their little one’s August primary school place, can use Tax-Free Childcare to save thousands on wraparound childcare and holiday club costs HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said.

Many working families will now be arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day, and with Tax-Free Childcare they can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost.  

Visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said: “Through our Plan for Change, we are putting more money into the pockets of working people, worth up to £2,000 per year through Tax-Free Childcare.

“This will make it easier for parents to get back into work as we go further and faster to grow the economy.”

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Starting school can be an expensive time, there’s a lot to buy and there’s also a lot to organise. Now you know where your child is going to school you can start organising your childcare and Tax-Free Childcare can help make the costs more manageable. Sign up to start saving today on GOV.UK.”

Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for any approved childcare so parents can arrange their childcare to suit them – whether that’s wraparound care, a childminder, after school clubs or school holiday care.

Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. 

For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to use to pay for their childcare costs.

Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it’s needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.   

The government’s Plan for Change is putting more money in people’s pockets and with Tax-Free Childcare, working families can save on their childcare bills by up to £2,000 per year per child or £4,000 a year if their child is disabled.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:   

   

• have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11^th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16^th birthday   
• the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average   
• each earn no more than £100,000 per annum   
• do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers       

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK.   

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the free childcare hours subject to eligibility. 

Remains from six Commonwealth soldiers who fought in World War 1, none of them identifiable by name, have been laid to rest in France.

The men were commemorated in two burial ceremonies this week: 

• On 29 April, remains from four unknown Commonwealth soldiers were buried at the Commonweath War Graves Commission (CWGC) Ovillers Military Cemetery. 
• On 30 April, two unknown Commonwealth soldiers were buried at CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension 

All services were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘War Detectives’. The services were supported by serving soldiers from Abingdon-based 4 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps. 

The soldiers buried at CWGC Ovillers Military Cemetery were discovered in fields near Fricourt, in the Somme region of France – whilst this land was fought over extensively during several phases of the war, these men are most likely casualties of the Battle of the Somme, 1916.  

The soldiers buried at CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension were recovered from Tilloy-les-Mofflaines and Loos-en-Gohelle – both in the Pas de Calais region of France. The man found at Tilloy most likely died during the Battle of Arras in 1917, whereas the man found at Loos was most likely killed either during the Battle of Loos in 1915, or the Hundred Days Offensive in 1918. 

Due to the extensive fighting in the recovery areas by multiple battalions of different regiments over a long period, the list of those missing is extensive. Though the General Service buttons and ammunition found alongside the remains indicate the men were of Commonwealth origin and unlikely to be officers, no artefacts could identify individuals. With no way to distinguish these men from the thousands recorded there as missing, they were buried as unknown soldiers, known unto God.  

Alexia Clark, MOD War Detective said: “Whilst it is disappointing that we have been unable to name these men, they have been afforded a dignified and respectful military burial to honour their sacrifice.

“Their memory will be kept alive by visitors to the cemeteries, and by those of us here to witness their burials. 

Reverend Joseph Roberts, Chaplain to 4 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps said: “It is a huge privilege to officiate at these burial services, even though these soldiers are unknown to us, they are forever known, named and loved by God.

“As they are laid to rest alongside their comrades who too made the ultimate sacrifice, for the freedoms and liberties of our way of life, it is therefore only right and proper to bury them, with the honour, respect and dignity that they are owed. May they rest in eternal peace.”

Head of Commemorations at the CWGC, Dr James Wallis, said: “We are deeply honoured to have these soldiers laid to rest at our cemeteries in France, after they tragically lost their lives more than a century ago.

“Although their names remain unknown, their graves will be cared for by us, in perpetuity.”